Ruth Baxter - Equestrian Coach

29/01/2025

As coaches, participants, parents and volunteers, we are all part of maintaining a safe environment for children to enjoy our sport.

This British Equestrian initiative has some straightforward and easy to understand information on what is and isn't acceptable when it comes to kids in sports. There's also a way to report concerns you may have if something doesn't feel right.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GcggPr81M/

📣 PLAY YOUR PART and join our new SAFE TO PLAY campaign!

🤝 We're excited to launch our dedicated safeguarding website, with thanks to Sport England for funding the project.

🗣 We are committed to ensuring a safe environment for all participants, parents and coaches so reporting a concern is now easier than ever, meaning we can all prioritise safeguarding.

🐴 Support our campaign by sharing the website with fellow equestrians and displaying Safe to Play materials around your centre.

Find out more and explore the website 👉 https://bit.ly/BEFLaunchSafeToPlay

20/01/2025

🎉🎉🎉 Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉

A huge congratulations to Lydia Bray-Smith Coaching on achieving her The British Horse Society Stage 4 management qualification.

Lydia and I work together when I visit Lakefield Equestrian Centre in Cornwall. She has been taking online tuition sessions with myself to help her gain this qualification.

Well done Lydia! 💪🏼💪🏼

Online training sessions are available towards any suitable qualification as well as practical tuition. Please get in touch for more information and see BHS Training Hub for more general information on BHS assessments

15/01/2025

Congratulations to Becky Suter!

Each person who commented on both the 2024 achievements and 2025 aims post was assigned a number. I then used a random number generator to select a number.

Becky, you get a £10 voucher to spend on your next lesson with me 😁

Thank you to everyone who commented. I look forward to helping you with your goals throughout the year 🥅 🐴🐎

01/01/2025

🎉🎉Happy New Year!🎉🎉

Welcome to 2025!

I'm looking forward to getting out and about to help people with their goals and aims for this year and beyond.
Why not share what you would like to work towards in the comments below 👇🏼👇🏼
Remember, for someone who has shared comments on both my memories of 2024 post and this one there will be a surprise 🤫

In 2025 I want to get back to more riding myself, as well as helping others build their skills with their horses.

Hope to see you all soon 😁

30/12/2024

Where did 2024 go?

As the year comes to an end many of us like to look back and see what we have achieved. This year has been much more personal for me but I've still had lots of horsey fun!

My top horse memories of 2024 are seeing the Paris Olympic cross country in person! And going riding with my (not horsey!) wife on our honeymoon ❤️

Of course I've also had great fun sharing in some of your activities over the year.

Share your top 2024 memories and achievements in the comments ⬇️⬇️

I'll pop on another post for 2025 aims in the next few days and there might be a couple of surprises for someone who comments on both posts 😉🐴🐴

24/12/2024

🎁Isobel and Charlie jumping into Christmas 🎁

I have a small amount of availability for coaching on Friday 27th December and Friday 3rd January. Please get in touch to book.

20/12/2024

🎄🎄🎁🎁🎄🎄

The last posting day for Christmas is now upon us 🙈
All vouchers have been posted out. Thank you to everyone who has supported my business this festive period!
If anyone is still in need of a last minute present, I can send e-vouchers out and I will be taking orders for these up until 1pm Christmas Eve.
🎄🎄🎄🎁🎁🎁🎄🎄🎄

26/11/2024

🎉🎉 Congratulations Kayleigh 🎉🎉

Kayleigh has successfully passed her The British Horse Society Stage 2 coaching assessment, completing her full stage 2 level assessments. Kayleigh has been training with me as she undertakes her apprenticeship at Lily Lodge Equestrian Centre. We put a lot of work in to build Kayleigh's confidence, as although she has some great coaching skills, she frequently questions herself.

Now we are focused on progressing forwards with both her level 3 apprenticeship qualification and working towards Stage 3 level qualifications.

Well done Kayleigh! 😁

22/10/2024

Something a bit different last weekend.

I had a lovely trip to watch the Spanish Riding School Live at Wembley. A real privilege to see the first live performance of work on the long lines performed by a female rider/handler (perhaps a little overdue but progress is progress), and the finale of the Quadrille gave us goosebumps. 🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄
They also had their 'good luck charm'...a Lipizanner who had remained bay! 🐴

No photos during the performance to ensure minimal distractions for the horses, however we did get some of the stadium next door and the 'Equestrian Zambonie' for the ice hockey fans in the family 😂

My next aim is to visit them in Vienna.
What horse performance would you like to see?

17/10/2024

❄️❄️ Winter is coming ❄️ ❄️
Hopefully with less 🌧️ 🌧️

We had so much fun playing poles at Hazlehead Hall Equestrian Centre that I forgot to take pictures in most sessions 🙈.
Hazlehead clinics will be back in 2025, watch this space! In the meantime their beautiful indoor arena is available to hire for lessons with me.

What are your plans for winter training? What would you like to learn? 👩🏼‍🎓🤓🐎

04/10/2024

🌧️🌧️🌧️Challenging weather this week! 🌧️🌧️🌧️

Luckily The Horse Works and HVL Dynamite - son of Air Jordan Z x Heartbreaker x Indoctro. AES Licensed had access to the fab arena at Golden Valley for a jumping lesson 🐎🐎

We had great fun!

Where is your favourite jumping venue? Tell us or tag them below 👇🏼👇🏼

21/09/2024

Coach training in the sunshine last week at Lily Lodge Equestrian Centre

Training is available across the levels for The British Horse Society assessments. Coaching and support can also be provided for The Pony Club, UKCC and work based qualifications.

Working in partnership with several riding schools across the Sheffield area I can offer training for riding, care, lunging and coaching qualifications.

Zoom training is also available for appropriate sections of assessments.

19/09/2024

A brilliant cross country clinic at High Hoyland recently, including riders and ponies from Sheffield Equestrian Centre.

Cross country grass season is over for this year, but there are a few places offering all weather training courses and we can work over simulated xc fences in arenas.

Hit the message button to get more information 🐎

17/09/2024

Develop your riding whatever the weather.
Sound good?

I am now able to offer tuition using the fantastic mechanical horse at the National Horseracing College in Doncaster.
The mechanical horse features seat, leg and rein aid sensors to help you understand what your horse feels when you apply an aid and where you might be asymmetrical.
Being on a predictable and consistent 'horse' can help with practice of specific techniques, or even build fitness. Positional corrections can be made without interrupting the horse's rhythm and focus.
All of this can have a huge positive impact on riding your own horse!

Initially sessions will be arranged to demand, with existing clients having priority. Clinics may be arranged in the future.

Let me know if you're interested!

04/09/2024

Herbie learns to fly! 🕊️ 🐎 🕊️

Ex racer Herbie has been working on his flatwork, learning how to carry himself and his rider in a flatwork frame rather than a racing stretch. To add variety and strengthen more muscles we are now introducing him to jumping. This session was the second time he has ever worked over fences.

Share your jumping photos below 👇🏼👇🏼

🦘 🐎 🦘

31/08/2024

How your position affects your horse.

Maria and Gizmo having a lunge lesson today. Usually when lunging we use side reins to help the horse work into a connection and give the rider a feel for the correct way of going. Today we worked loose to enable Gizmo to give Maria feedback on how her position affects him. In the second photo you can see how she started a little tight and behind the movement; Gizmo is stiff through his back, head raised and has little length of stride. As Maria relaxes and becomes more balanced Gizmo starts to soften, lengthen his stride, lift his back and push from the hind end.

Lunge lessons are a great way to focus on your position!